Bill stacking mechanism

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for stacking bills received from a bill acceptor or the like in which corrugated rollers at the outlet of the acceptor deliver each bill lengthwise to an escrow chamber in front of a flat plate-like ram which is reciprocated in response to a signal from the acceptor to move the bill past retainer flanges on the mouth of a readily detachable cash box against the action of a foam spring in the box to stack the bills vertically within the receptacle.

[ Nov. 4, 1975 United States Patent 1191 Okkonen et a1.

1 BILL STACKING MECHANISM 1,282,838 10/1918Hudson1........................... [75] Inventors: Oliver G. Okkonen,Comstock Park; mig z 'ji Lloyd D. Herring, Jenison, both of 3:655:1864/1972 Bayha Mich.

[73] Assignee: Rowe International, Inc., Whippany,

Primary Examiner-Evon C. Blunk Assistant ExaminerBruce H. Stoner, Jr.Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Shenier & OConnor [22] Filed: Dec. 6, 1973 [57]ABSTRACT Apparatus for stacking bills received from a bill ac- 21 Appl.No.; 422,266

[52] US. 271/181; 194/4 E; 214/7;

ceptor or the like in which corrugated rollers at the outlet of theacceptor deliver each bill lengthwise to 271/188; 271/214 B65H 29/46;B65l-I 31/06 Field of Search 2 CL 27l/l81 180 214 215 an escrow chamberin front of a flat plate-like ram 271016 217 218 719 1 f whlch 1sreciprocated 111 response to a signal from the 7 6 6 i acceptor to movethe b1ll past retalner flanges on the mouth of a readily detachable cashbox against the ac- References Cited t1on of a foam sprlng 1n the box tostack the b1lls vert1- cally w1th1n the receptacle. UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,041,808 271/181 10 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures US. Patent Nov.4, 1975 Sheet 1 of 3 US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet2 of3 3,917,260

NOE I: O6 J l. g r k L an 6 US. Patent Nov. 4, 1975 Sheet 3 of33,917,260

PIC-1,5

IZOVAC :2

\NC I38 BILL STACKING MECHANISM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There areknown in the prior art bill acceptors which accept bills and whichproduce a signal if the bill is genuine. These acceptors may form partof a changemaking mechanism or the signal may be used to establish acredit which can be used to purchase goods or services. One such billacceptor is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,485,358, issued Dec. 23, 1969 toDonald E. Hooker, entitled Dollar Bill Collector.

While devices of the type described above operate satisfactorily intesting the genuineness of bills and in actuating change-makers orestablishing credit, the problem exists of collecting and storing thebills which pass through the acceptor. It is obvious that an openstorage space into which the bills drop in the manner of coins passingthrough coin responsive mechanisms is not satisfactory. It is desirablethat the bills be stored in a stack and that they not be crumpled orotherwise disarranged.

We have invented apparatus for stacking bills received from a billacceptor or the like. Our apparatus includes a cash box which is readilyremovable from the operating mechanism of the stacker. It has a largecapacity. It is relatively simple in construction for the resultachieved thereby.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of our invention is to provideapparatus for stacking bills received from a bill acceptor or the like.

Another object of our invention is to provide a bill stacking apparatuswhich has a readily removable cash box.

A further object of our invention is to provide a bill stackingapparatus which is relatively simple in construction.

Other and further objects of our invention will be apparent from thefollowing description.

In general our invention contemplates the provision of apparatus forstacking bills received from a bill acceptor or the like in whichcorrugated rollers at the outlet of the acceptor deliver each billlengthwise to a space in front of a ram which is reciprocated inresponse to a signal from the bill acceptor to carry the bill throughthe mouth of a cash box and behind retaining flanges thereon against theaction of a foam cushion so that bills sequentially fed to the space infront of the ram are collected in the cash box in a stack. The cashboxof our assembly is readily removable from the operating mechanism.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of our billstacking appara- FIG. 2 is a top plan view of our bill stacking appara-FIG. 3 is an end elevation of our bill stacking appara- FIG. 4 is aschematic view of the electrical control circuitry of our bill stackingapparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings,our bill stacking apparatus indicated generally by the referencecharacter 10 includes a cash box indicated generally by the referencecharacter 12 including respective side plates 14 and 16 and a back plate18 secured to flanges 20 and 22 on the side plates by any suitable meanssuch for example as by rivets 24. The base plate 26 of the cash box 12is secured to flanges 29 and 30 running along the bottom of the sideplates by any suitable means such for example as by rivets 32. Weprovide the open front or mouth of the cash box 12 with a pair ofinwardly directed flanges 36 and 38 extending along the sides of themouth to retain bills fed into the cash box in a manner to be described.

We form the upper edges of the side walls 14 and 16 of the cash box witha pair of outwardly directed hanger flanges 39 and 40 connected by anysuitable means, such for example as by a rod 42. A pin 44 carried by theside plate 14, for example, is adapted to locate the cash box 12 on theremainder of the operating mechanism in a manner to be described. Weposition a spring in the form of a block of urethane foam 46 within thecash box 12 so as to urge bills in the box toward the flanges 36 and 38.

The operating mechanism, indicated generally by the reference character48, of our bill stacking apparatus includes a top plate 50 formed withside flanges 52 and 54. We secure respective guide blocks 56 and 58 tothe top plate 50 adjacent to the flanges 52 and 54 by any suitable meanssuch as screws 60. The cash box 12 is adapted to be assembled on theoperating mechanism 48 by sliding the hanger flanges 39 and 40 along theguide blocks 56 and 58. When the cash box is properly located asdetermined by the engagement of pin 44 with the operating mechanism 48,a U-shaped latch 61 pivotally supported on the guide blocks 56 and 58 ismoved downwardly over the back of the cash box 12. To facilitate thisoperation we may incline the back edges of side plates 14 and 16slightly inwardly at the tops thereof.

We form the operating mechanism back plate 62 with a flange 64 at theupper edge thereof adapted to be secured to the top plate 50 by anysuitable means such for example as byscrews 66. We form a base plate 68integrally with the back plate 62. Base plate 68 extends from the backplate 62 toward the cashbox 12. Preferably we provide a reinforcingmember 70 extending between the base plate 68 and the top plate 50 andsecured to the two members by any means such for example as by screws72. We form the base plate 62 with spaced extensions 74 and 76 whichextend for some distance to the left of the base plate 62 as viewed inFIG. 1.

We mount a gearbox 78 on the base plate 62. A motor 80 having an outputshaft 82 provides, the input to the gearbox 78 so that the output shaft84 thereof rotates in response to energization of the motor 80. Shaft 84carries a crank 86 having a pin 88 thereon which receives a bushing 90.We position the bushing 90 in a slot 92 formed in the base 94 of a ramcarriage. We secure a flange 96 at the front of the base 94 to a ram 98by any suitable means such for example as by welding or the like. Itwill be seen that the ram 98 has a platelike configuration which, aswill be explained more fully hereinbelow, is adapted to engage a billover a substantial area of the surface thereof. Preferably we connect astrut 100 between the ram 98 at a point below the flange and thecarriage base 94 adjacent to the right end thereof as viewed in FIG. 1.

We mount respective pairs of spaced pins 102 and 104 and 106 and 108onthe sides of the carriage base 94. We provide base plate 62 with aflange 110 extending along one edge thereof and along the extension 74of the base plate 62. A pair of slots 112 and 114 in the flange 110 areadapted to receive pins 102 and 104. A second flange 116 extending alongthe other edge of the base plate 62 and along the extension 76 isformedwith slots 118 and 120 for receiving the pins 106 and 108.

A pair of generally U-shaped vertically extending inwardly openingguides 122 and 124 form an escrow chamber for the reception of bills infront of the flanges 36 and 38. The bill acceptor or the likeindicatedgenerally by the reference character 128, and a fragmentaryportion of which is illustrated in FIG. 1, is provided with a pair ofcorrugated outlet rolls 130 and 132, the corrugations of whichinterdigitate so as to vertically straighten and slightly crease a billbeing fed from the acceptor to the space formed by guides 122 and 124.

It is to be noted that the action of the corrugating rollers on a billis such that even a relatively limp bill, after having passed betweenthe rollers, will not tend to collapse to the bottom of the escrowchamber formed in part by guides 122 and 124. Moreover, the dimensionsof the chamber are such as to inhibit collapse of a bill.

The distance between the inboard edges of the lips or flanges 38 issomewhat less than the width of a bill being handled. The ram 98 ishigher than a bill is long. The width of the ram, while permittingmovement of the ram into the cash box between the lips 36 and 38 issufficiently great that the ram engages a bill over a major part of thearea thereof.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in one form of electrical circuit which may beused to control our bill stacking mechanism, motor 80 is connectedacross terminals 134 and 136 of a suitable source of voltage in serieswith a noise-suppression R-C circuit including aresistor 138 and acapacitor 140. The output of the bill acceptor or the like with whichour assembly is used includes a terminal 142 which carries a potentialof about 30 volts D.C., a ground terminal 144, and a terminal 146 atwhich a pulse appears when an acceptable bill has passed through thebill acceptor. A voltage divider network 148 and 150 applies the pulseat terminal 146 to the base of a first transistor T-l having a collectorresistor 152 and an emitter resistor 154. The resultant signal appearingon resistor 154 is applied to the base of a second transistor T-2 toenergize a relay winding R adapted to close a pair of normally openswitches R-1 and R-2. Preferably we connect a noise-suppressing diode156 across the winding of relay R.

When winding R is energized switch R-l closes to complete a holdingcircuit for the winding R through a switch S-2 held in engagement withits normally open contact by a cam 160 on shaft 82 in the rest positionof the apparatus. This holding circuit maintains winding R energizedafter the actuating pulse disappears. When switch R-2 closes, itenergizes motor 80 so that shaft 82 begins to rotate. When'the shaft 82begins its rotation, a cam 158, which holds a switch in engagement withits normally open contact in the rest position of the apparatus, permitsthe switch to move into engagement with its normally closed contact tocomplete a holding circuit for the motor. Shortly thereafter cam 160permits switch 8-2 to move into engagement with its normally closedcontact. This operation deenergizes the relay R so that switches R-1 andR-2 are opened. In addition the engagement of switch 8-2 with itsnormally closed contact grounds a terminal 162 which may be connected tothe bill acceptor to lock out the acceptor so that" no more bills can beinserted therein. As shaft 82 completes a revolution,'cams 158 and 160again actuate switches S-1 and 5-2 and the circuit returns to thecondition shown in FIG- 4.

In operation of our bill stacking apparatus, a bill pass ing through thebill acceptor128 emerges from between rollers 130 and 132 in thedirection of its length and enters the space between the guides 122 and124 in front of the ram 98. At the same time a pulse at terminal 146indicating that an acceptable bill has passed through the bill acceptorcauses motor to be energize'd for a single revolution. As the motorshaft 82 goes through a single revolution, crank 86 carrying pin 88causes the carriage base 94 to reciprocate so that the ram 98 engagesthe bill andmoves it beyondthe flanges 36 and 38 against the action ofthe cushion 46. This operation continues until the cash box 12 is full.For example, in one embodiment of our apparatus up to one thousand billscanbe stacked in the cashbox 112. When the cash box is full, the latch61 can be raised to permit the full cash box 12 to be removed from theop-, erating assembly and a fresh cash box can be assembled in operativerelationship thereto.

It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our invention.We have provided apparatus for stacking bills received'from a billacceptor or the like.

Our apparatus is capable of handling old, new or wrinkled bills withoutjamming. We provide our assembly with a readily removable cash box. Ourassembly is simple in construction for the results achieved thereby.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are ofutility and may be employed without reference to other features andsubcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of ourclaims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of our claims without departing from the spiritof our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our inventionis not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim 1. Apparatus forstacking elongated bills received from a bill acceptor or the like whichdelivers an acceptable bill in the direction of the greater longitudinallength thereof and which frees a bill upon delivery thereof, includingin combination, a cash box having an elongated mouth, retaining lipsextending along the longitudinal edges of said mouth, means forming anarrow elongated escrow chamber in front of said mouth and adapted toreceive a freed bill with said bill supported on one of the shorterlateral edges thereof, means at the outlet of said acceptor forimparting to a bill being delivered from said acceptor to said escrowchamber longitudinal crease to inhibit movement of said bill from saidposition in said escrow chamber in which the bill is supported on saidshorter lateral edge thereof after being freed, a flat ram elongated inthe direction of elongation of said mouth, the dimension of said rambeing such as to engage a bill overa major part of the area thereof,means mounting saidram for move ment from a home position at a side ofsaid chamber remote from said mouth across said chamber and through saidmouth past said retaining lips and back to said home position to carry abill from said chamber into said cash box through said mouth and meansresponsive to operation of said acceptor for moving said ram.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for manually detachablymounting said cash box on said ram mounting means with said mouth inoperative relationship with said ram.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 in which said cash box mounting meanscomprises interengageable means on said ram mounting means and on saidcash box for mounting said cash box for movement from a position atwhich said mouth is remote from said space to a position at which saidmouth is adjacent to said space, and a manually operated latch forlocking said cash box in said adjacent position.

4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said interengageable means comprisessliding means.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which the distance between the edges ofsaid lips is less than the width of a bill.

6. Apparaus as in claim 1 in which said ram is generally rectangular inoutline, the width of said ram being less than the width of a bill beinghandled, the length in response to the passage of an acceptable billtherethrough including in combination, a frame, means on said frameforming a vertically oriented bill escrow chamber having the generalshape of a rectangular parallelopiped, said chamber having an open upperend for the reception of bills on end from said acceptor, one side ofsaid chamber being formed with an opening permitting the discharge ofbills from the chamber, a cash box formed with a generally rectangularmouth, respective inwardly directed lips running along oppositelongitudinal edges of said mouth, the distance between the edges of saidlips being less than the width of a bill being handled to retain billsin said cash box, means in said cash box for biasing bills thereintoward said lips, means mounting said cash box on said frame with saidmouth adjacent to said chamber discharge opening, a ram having a flatrectangular bill engaging surface, means mounting said ram on said framefor movement of said surface from a home position remote from said mouththrough said chamber and through said mouth and back to said homeposition to carry a bill from said chamber into said cash box past saidretaining flanges against the action of said biasing means, energizabledrive means for said ram and means responsive to said signal forenergizing said drive means, said cash box mounting means comprisinginterengageable means on said frame and on said cash box for mountingsaid cash box for movement from a position at which said mouth is remotefrom said discharge opening to a position at which said mouth isadjacent to said opening and a manually operable latch for holding saidcash box in said adjacent position.

10. Apparatus as in claim 9 including corrugated rollers for feedingbills on end to said chamber.

1. Apparatus for stacking elongated bills received from a bill acceptoror the like which delivers an acceptable bill in the direction of thegreater longitudinal length thereof and which frees a bill upon deliverythereof, including in combination, a cash box having an elongated mouth,retaining lips extending along the longitudinal edges of said mouth,means forming a narrow elongated escrow chamber in front of said mouthand adapted to receive a freed bill with said bill supported on one ofthe shorter lateral edges thereof, means at the outlet of said acceptorfor imparting to a bill being delivered from said acceptor to saidescrow chamber longitudinal crease to inhibit movement of said bill fromsaid position in said escrow chamber in which the bill is supported onsaid shorter lateral edge thereof after being freed, a flat ramelongated in the direction of elongation of said mouth, the dimension ofsaid ram being such as to engage a bill over a major part of the areathereof, means mounting said ram for movement from a home position at aside of said chamber remote from said mouth across said chamber andthrough said mouth past said retaining lips and back to said homeposition to carry a bill from said chamber into said cash box throughsaid mouth and means responsive to operation of said acceptor for movingsaid ram.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 including means for manuallydetachably mounting said cash box on said ram mounting means with saidmouth in operative relationship with said ram.
 3. Apparatus as in claim2 in which said cash box mounting means comprises interengageable meanson said ram mounting means and on said cash box for mounting said cashbox for movement from a position at which said mouth is remote from saidspace to a position at which said mouth is adjacent to said space, and amanually operated latch for locking said cash box in said adjacentposition.
 4. Apparatus as in claim 3 in which said interengageable meanscomprises sliding means.
 5. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which thedistance between the edges of said lips is less than the width of abill.
 6. Apparaus as in claim 1 in which said ram is generallyrectangular in outline, the width of said ram being less than the widthof a bill being handled, the length of the ram being greater than thelength of a bill being handled.
 7. Apparatus as in claim 1 including ablock of resilient material in said cash box for urging bills in saidbox toward said lips.
 8. Apparatus as in claim 1 in which said creaseiMparting means includes corrugated delivery rollers for longitudinallystraightening and slightly creasing a bill being delivered to saidescrow chamber.
 9. Apparatus for stacking bills received from a billacceptor or the like adapted to produce an output signal in response tothe passage of an acceptable bill therethrough including in combination,a frame, means on said frame forming a vertically oriented bill escrowchamber having the general shape of a rectangular parallelopiped, saidchamber having an open upper end for the reception of bills on end fromsaid acceptor, one side of said chamber being formed with an openingpermitting the discharge of bills from the chamber, a cash box formedwith a generally rectangular mouth, respective inwardly directed lipsrunning along opposite longitudinal edges of said mouth, the distancebetween the edges of said lips being less than the width of a bill beinghandled to retain bills in said cash box, means in said cash box forbiasing bills therein toward said lips, means mounting said cash box onsaid frame with said mouth adjacent to said chamber discharge opening, aram having a flat rectangular bill engaging surface, means mounting saidram on said frame for movement of said surface from a home positionremote from said mouth through said chamber and through said mouth andback to said home position to carry a bill from said chamber into saidcash box past said retaining flanges against the action of said biasingmeans, energizable drive means for said ram and means responsive to saidsignal for energizing said drive means, said cash box mounting meanscomprising interengageable means on said frame and on said cash box formounting said cash box for movement from a position at which said mouthis remote from said discharge opening to a position at which said mouthis adjacent to said opening and a manually operable latch for holdingsaid cash box in said adjacent position.
 10. Apparatus as in claim 9including corrugated rollers for feeding bills on end to said chamber.